San Diegans engaged in debate over pot measure

Proposition 19 would legalize marijuana under California law

San Diegans have pivotal roles on both sides of Proposition 19, the battle to legalize marijuana that may prove a turning point in the nation’s decades-old war on drugs.

Polls suggest California and San Diego voters are closely divided on the Nov. 2 ballot measure, which would allow people at least 21 years old to grow, possess and use limited amounts of marijuana.

Backers say the measure would let law enforcement focus more on violent crime, drain money from drug cartels and bring new revenue to local governments by allowing them to regulate and tax marijuana.

Opponents say the measure would lead to a confusing patchwork of laws from city to city, encourage more youngsters to light up and make roadways more dangerous and the cartels even more deadly.

A City Heights couple, Ben Cisneros, 27, and Rachel Scoma, 25, are regional field directors in charge of San Diego voter outreach for the Yes on 19 campaign. In addition to the larger themes, they believe legalization would be an overall economic benefit to the state.

“This can be like the California wine industry,” said Cisneros, an occasional pot smoker who is involved in the campaign while deciding where to apply to law school. “It can create a huge amount of jobs.”

San Diegan John Redman, 51, executive director of the nonprofit Californians for Drug-Free Youth, argues for the No on 19 campaign at forums statewide.

“How are kids going to say no when the adults are saying yes?” said Redman, whose daughters are 15 and 19. “We have to understand that drugs are not harmful because they’re illegal. They’re illegal because they’re harmful.”

The two sides are largely counting on the power of their arguments. Neither campaign has reported much fundraising, and both are vying for voter attention with high-profile, heavily advertised races for governor, U.S. Senate and other ballot initiatives.

About three-quarters of the $2.1 million supporters had raised through Sept. 30 came from Oakland medical marijuana entrepreneur Richard Lee, and $1.3 million of that total was used for a signature drive to qualify Proposition 19 for the ballot.

Opponents had raised only $210,000 through Sept. 30.

Late contribution reports filed since then show supporters continue to out-raise opponents, $328,000 to $85,000.

A state legislative analysis estimated state and local governments could save tens of millions of dollars a year on the costs of incarcerating and supervising some marijuana offenders. The same analysis also estimated government tax and fee revenues could potentially increase by hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Any financial benefits would depend on how the U.S. government reacts — marijuana would still be illegal under federal law — and how local governments regulate and tax marijuana activities.

Proposition 19 would make it legal for individuals to possess of up to an ounce of pot and would allow them to grow it in a space of up to 25 square feet. People would be prohibited from possessing marijuana on school grounds, using it in public, smoking it while minors are present, or providing it to anyone under 21 years old.